I watched a TV adaption of J. B. Priestley's An Inspector Calls last night. I had forgotten what powerful messages it contained and given what we are facing currently it was a timely reminder. In the last scenes with the Inspector, shortly before his exit addresses the family and delivers these words;
"We don't live alone. We are members of one body. We are responsible for each other. And I tell you that the time will come soon when, if man will not learn that lesson, then they will be taught it in fire and blood and anguish."
This of course was a blistering commentary of Priestley's socialist message. The promise of "fire, blood and anguish" references to the First and Second World Wars, which for Priestley's audience in 1946 must have been a chilling reminder. Given what we could possibly be facing, for me it was just as chilling today.
It might be time for us all to wake before it is too late.
Another memorable was line was;
"It's not where you start, it's where you finish in this life." From where I sit, the 'finish' bit isn't looking that crash hot, but at least we have an opportunity to do something about it, before it is too late. It's up to us.
